Forbidden Desire

I didn’t really care about any eyes that were on me apart from Jason’s. I didn’t cry when Siwoo accused me of hitting on him. I didn’t cry when Jinhee called me a slut and said I was fired, but I couldn’t hold back my tears when Jason looked at me confused, as if for a second he’d had second thoughts. As if for a second he had judged me so badly. His eyes seemed to ask me if it was true and at that moment, when our eyes said more than our mouths, my heart broke. Before I could have any reaction, the fight that seemed to be raging in Jason’s mind seemed to be over, and he had reached a verdict, although I still didn’t know his sentence. At this point, I didn’t care if he had found me guilty or not guilty, that wrinkle of concern on his forehead that was there for less than three seconds was enough to hurt me for life. He turned away from me and confronted Jinhee.

“You’re not going to kick her out like that, and you have no right to call her a slut. When I got there, he was the one grabbing her while the girl was begging him to let her go. I know what I saw and that’s worth more than any lie that came out of his mouth,” Jason asserted, his voice firm yet tinged with an undercurrent of frustration.

She seemed totally bewildered by that answer and stomped her foot on the floor as she screamed. He never said no to her and now that he was saying it she was throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child.

“JASON, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE GOING TO DISRESPECT MY AUTHORITY LIKE THAT!” Jinhee’s voice reverberated through the room, her frustration palpable as she struggled to regain control of the situation.

He closed and opened his eyes as he breathed deeply in an attempt to calm down.

“Stop yelling because I’m standing in front of you!” Jason’s tone was sharp, a warning laced with thinly veiled irritation.

“Jason, you’ve known this girl for a week, and you’re believing her instead of Siwoo, who has worked for you for over a year and has been my best friend since I was a teenager?” Jinhee’s voice wavered with a mixture of disbelief and indignation.

“In one week, this ‘girl,’ as you say with such disdain, has already given me a lot more confidence than he has. Since he started working for me, he has always been a burden to the company. His character has always been dubious and I’ve never trusted him,” Jason retorted, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.

“BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? AND YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN MY JUDGMENT? I DEMAND THAT SHE LEAVES NOW! THIS GIRL WILL NOT STAY HERE!” Jinhee’s voice rose in a crescendo of anger, her frustration boiling over as she struggled to assert her authority.

Jinhee tried to come towards me with an aggressive posture and Jason held her by the arms, shaking her.

“Jinhee, pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you,” his tone was low but threatening.

“Right now you’re in no position to demand anything. I still haven’t forgiven you for what you did and I still haven’t forgotten that note. Honestly, right now it’s easier for me to send you away than her,” Jason’s words hung in the air, a silent rebuke that left Jinhee stunned into silence.

My heart raced as I heard him defend me, as much as he seemed to have doubted it for a moment, now he was defending me and, for the first time, he was putting me above her, as if I had a high grade, and she was failing. She was stunned by his words. Not knowing what to say, she brought her hand up to her lips, covering them and showing all her surprise mixed with indignation. Jason stared at her with his jaw clenched, and his gaze showed that he wasn’t going to change his mind about his decision. Siwoo, who had previously been lying on the ground, now approached with a more peaceful look on his face, but I knew it was the look of an alligator ready to pounce.

“Guys, it’s not that big a deal, it was all a misunderstanding. Everything’s fine now, you don’t need to fight about it. Jiji, don’t fight with your husband over something so insignificant. Remember how good he is to you and how much you ‘need’ to be together,” Siwoo interjected, his voice dripping with false sincerity as he attempted to defuse the tension.

He emphasized the word ‘need’ as if subtly reminding her that they needed Jason, or they’d be left with nothing. It only made me feel more disgusted, and I wanted to shout to the four winds that they were lovers, but to be honest, after the split second it took Jason to believe me, even after he saw what had happened, it made me doubt whether he would believe me if I accused his wife of cheating without any proof.

“Relax, Jiji, she’s just a maid,” Siwoo continued, his grip tightening on her arm as he attempted to steer her attention away from Jason.

Jinhee’s gaze remained fixed on Jason, a mixture of anger, disgust, and disappointment evident in her eyes. When she finally tore her gaze away from him, her eyes landed on me, their intensity like a blade that pierced through me. A tear ran down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away, a wicked smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“You’ll regret it! I’ll make you wish you’d left!” her voice dripped with venom, her threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Her threatening voice made me certain that from then on she would be my enemy and would use every weapon she had against me. She tugged on the arm Siwoo was holding as if she was angry with him too and stormed out, followed by him. When they left and the door slammed, I let out the air I hadn’t realized I was holding and collapsed, letting all the tears flow as I felt my knees weaken, causing me to fall to the floor. Jason took me in his arms, helped me up and hugged me. I buried my face in his chest as I hugged his neck and clung to his shirt.

“Hey, it’s okay, girl!” Jason’s voice was gentle, his arms offering a sense of security that I desperately needed in that moment.

I was breathing hard, and my words were cut off because I was crying as I pulled away from him, trying to get out of there.

“I need to get out of here!” I gasped, my voice choked with emotion as I made a feeble attempt to escape.

He reached for the door to open it, but he pushed it shut and pushed me against it.

“No! You’re staying! Jane, I need you by my side!” Jason’s voice was pleading, his desperation palpable as he sought to keep me close.

His gaze wandered around the room, his expression pained as he struggled to find the right words.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to be very disappointed with Jinhee over the next few days, me. I’m suspicious of her. I’ve hired a detective to confirm my suspicions once and for all. When that happens, I don’t want to be alone! Can you please…” his voice trailed off, his eyes pleading for understanding.

He closed his eyes as if it hurt to say those words.

“Stay by my side? Please, can you not leave me alone?” his almond-shaped eyes were troubled, lost, but I felt as if I could see his soul.

“I really need someone by my side. A friend…” his voice wavered with emotion, his vulnerability shining through.

Wow, that hurt! A friend, that’s how he saw me. A friend.

“Of course! I’m your friend!”